Man Entered Club Ready to Shoot, Cops Say

4 Killed in Health Club Shooting Outside Pittsburgh, Including Gunman; 9 Injured; Possible Online Diary Found

(CBS/ AP)  Updated 10:02 a.m. ET

The gunman who opened fire at a health club outside Pittsburgh, killing three women along with himself, and injuring nine others, may have kept an online diary in which he chronicled his struggle with carrying out the shooting, CBS station KDKA reports.

Police identified the gunman as 48-year-old George Sodini from Scott Township, reports KDKA and have also confirmed that Elizabeth Gannon, 49, of Pittsburgh and Heidi Overmier, 46, of Carnegie were two of the victims in the shooting.

KDKA reports that Sodini kept an online diary that indicates he was planning a shooting.

In an entry dated January 6, 2009, the author, a 48-year-old white male, writes, "I can do this ... God have mercy ... I wish life could be better ... I wish I had answers ... Bye."

Two hours after that entry, he wrote: "I chickened out ... I brought the loaded guns, everything."

Then, this past Sunday, Aug. 2, the man wrote: "Tomorrow is the big day ... Last time I tried this, I chickened out. Let's see how this new approach works out."

Allusions to a shooting begin as far back as November of last year: "Why do this to young girls?" he asks.

Meanwhile, investigators were trying to piece together the motive of the gunman who walked into an exercise class in suburban Pittsburgh and fired dozens of shots, killing three women and himself, authorities said.

Two women and the suspected shooter died at the scene Tuesday night and another woman died on the way to a hospital, Allegheny County police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said at a news conference in the parking lot of the LA Fitness centre in Collier Township early Wednesday.

Moffatt said police were not sure who the target of the shooting was but that the gunman went into the health club planning to shoot several people - firing "multiple" weapons "indiscriminately," Moffatt said - and did not say anything before unleashing a burst of bullets.

"He walked right into the room where the shootings occurred as if he knew exactly where he was going," Moffatt said.

More than 50 shots were fired, reports CBS News correspondent Susan Koeppen.

The violence rocked Collier, a bedroom community of about 5,300 residents near Interstate 79, some eight miles southwest of downtown Pittsburgh.

Richard Walker, who was playing basketball near the exercise room when shots rang out, said he carried one victim who was shot in the leg outside to paramedics.

"She just said, 'He's gonna kill me,'" Walker told CBS' "The Early Show". "It was horrible."

Moffatt said the gunman was a member of the health club and had identification but that police needed to check fingerprints and speak to his family to confirm his identity. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner said three of the four victims had been positively identified early Wednesday, but their names would likely not be released before midmorning.

Moffatt said police recovered at least two guns from the scene and a note was found in the shooter's duffel bag, but he would not say whether the shooter had written it.

"I don't think anyone could have stopped him," Moffatt said.

Five victims arrived in critical condition at UPMC Mercy Hospital, but three were upgraded to serious condition by early Wednesday. Two women remained in fair condition at Allegheny General Hospital, hospital officials said. Two female victims were in stable condition at St. Clair Hospital, spokesman Rich Sieber said Tuesday, but their conditions were not immediately available Wednesday.

By early Wednesday, Moffatt said two victims remained critical, two others were in surgery and two had reportedly been treated and released, with the others still hospitalized. Moffatt said police know the names of the wounded women, but aren't releasing them immediately, and he couldn't specify which victims were in each hospital.

Joann Gazzam, who was taking part in the weekly "Latin impact" dance aerobics class, saw the gunman walk to the back of the room near some weights, set down a bag and fumble with it for a few minutes before coming up with what appeared to be two guns and opening fire, according to her sister, Debi Wozniak, of suburban Dormont.

Gazzam told Wozniak that the instructor was among those who appeared to have been shot, and that the gunman had killed himself.

"She told me, 'Debi, I seen everything. Oh, my God, I seen everything. I seen him pull out the guns,'" said Wozniak, who usually attends the class but was running late Tuesday and didn't make it.

The gunman walked in the room, turned off the lights and, at first nobody knew what was happening, said Stacey Falk, 26, of Bridgeville, who was in the class.

"All of us girls were just ducking behind each other and it was just, you know, I was behind a girl, one of the girls in front to get hit, and when he was in the opposite corner shooting, I booked it," she told WPXI-TV.

Loretta Moss, 44, of McDonald, said she was exercising on a treadmill when she heard a popping noise.

"I didn't pay any attention, and the next minute, people were screaming," said Moss, who had come to the gym Tuesday night for the first time in a couple of weeks. She said she then heard more pops.

"There was like a whole spray of them. I'd say about 15 altogether, and then people started screaming and yelling and started running out the building," she said.

"We laid down, and then after the last set of ... gunshots, we got up, and someone said run."

Moss said she then saw two young women bleeding, one shot in the leg and one in the shoulder. She said she checked on the pulse of the lady shot in the leg.

"She was screaming, 'It's burning, just please call the ambulance,'" Moss said.

The fitness centre, which opened last year, is in a strip mall called the Great Southern Shopping Center, where a few businesses were destroyed in a 2006 fire. The fitness centre said in a statement: "Each of us in the LA Fitness family are shocked and saddened by the senseless acts of violence that took place."

[FNAR]

Like does anybody actually think gun control will help nut cases like this? This is why we as USA citizen that are law abiding, work hard pay our taxes etc.. have the right to own firearms to protect ourselves and family from fruit loops like this. I am not an overly social person myself; married 10+ years one child regular Joe type. I would never intentionally harm anyone. But yes since the election I have purchased several handguns and various rifles. They are all stored safely except for my permitted carry concealed Kel-Tec PF9 that goes everywhere with me other then places that CCW arn't permitted. My wife at first was very skeptical about the permit but now she feels much more at ease when were out or in a unfamiliar town or motel/hotel room. With weapons comes responsibility but as our constitution states we have the right to bear arms. There's always going to be this type of maniac that makes national news but that shouldn't reflect on normal sane millions of other gun owners. If the day ever came that law abiding citizens had to turn there guns in, we all know the criminals will still have sources to have them.

this is my opinion

[cowleyrobins]

I look at this guys photograph, and I think that he could have done alright with the ladies in the looks area, particularly many years ago, like 20. His problems with women were largly his own making from his fear of them and his growing resentment. many men have actual physical features that make them ugly, but they don't go around blaming women, they just realize that they are not blessed, they have a handicap.
I think his estimate that there is only 30 million desireable women in america is very low, less than 20 percent, I think it is closer to 40 even if your standards are high.
That lonelyness of 20 years is a serious problem, and if one could infact identify a culprit, or culprits for this, I think it would justify a good killing of them. But this guy blamed women for not finding him attractive, this is insane and inconsiderate. These women he killed were probably working out because they were also someone insecure about there appeal, he should not have killed anyone, not even himself. One could say he could blame the fact that his access to women is diminished by an influx of foreign men into the country and then he would be more reasonable to go shooting some of them, but in reality he has no one to blame but his own inability to charm and intertain.
If on the other hand a person had been mistreated by a justice system in this country that resulted in this sort of chronic alientation from companionship, then such a victim would be justified in going after those responsible. Kill, the cops, kill the judges, the DDA's and even the legislators.
In my case, I would be justified in killing these people and dont be suprised if I am on the news one day for this. The laws in our country are becoming the iplements of which hunting and branding. They make people register as sex offenders who have never even "offended" a person sexually. see cmybuttjudge.angelfire. com

[firewench]

Mrs. Bun, you are not much of a "christian" woman yourself if you can't fathom that this man was a misogynist pig. He hated women, so he went to a place where a lot of women would be and shot them. He was also a racist and generally a lousy unAmerican pig.

You, Mrs. Bun are a *****.

[6591Hou]

Just for the sake of adding something different to the mix:

In Houston over the past two days there has been one axe murder and one machete murder. In New York there was a woman who killed several while driving impaired.

So how many things do you have to ban in order to make everyone safe and avoid anyone having to take personal responsibility for their actions? All edged objects, cars, minivans, alcohol, guns.....where do you stop?

[woeisme1]

It's funny yet alarming. The far right wants to preserve their LOVE for guns (and violence for that is what guns are solely used for - violence).

The fact of the matter is simple: less guns means less violence. Why don't you gun nuts understand that. Less guns = less gun violence. It's really quite simple - just like you gun nuts. As simple sas the logic is and as simple as you nuts are one would presume the two of you would get on famously.

[displeased]

I think less depression = less violence, less cognitive disorder = less violence. If we didn't live in such a violent society, we would have less violence. Guns are just the middle man. Removing guns does not remove the cause, it just removes ONE of the methods.

I agree we should enforce the gun laws and remove loopholes, but removing guns from society will not remove violence. Can you explain why gun sales went up last year but violence went down?

[pghgirl09]

There are several things I'd like to say in response to many of you:

1. You need to stop blaming the NRA, government, etc. for this incident. It was this man's choice to carry out such a violent crime. He legally obtained the gun. There is no way to figure out the motives of a person buying a gun. People would have to be mind readers for that to work and let's be serious, that is IMPOSSIBLE. There is NO one to blame here except the shooter, ESPECIALLY not the women in his life because they weren't "Christian" enough. That is one of the most absurd things I have ever heard. From what I have read and heard about this man, he was not right. And being raised Catholic, if I had known him and he was as wierd as he seemed, I would have separated myself from him as well. That does not make me less Christian...that would be me listening to my instinct that something was off about him and not wanting to put myself in any type of danger. Yes, people in your life can influence you, but get real. This was his doing, not any one else. It was his choice, his doing, his fault. End of story. It is NOT the NRA's fault... they are not the one that strolled into the gym and open fired. Do the words "Personal Responsibility" mean nothing to you?

2. Everyone is speculating about "WHY" this happened. Living in Pittsburgh, I have seen a lot of news saying it was a possible domestic dispute. No one has said it had anything to do with race so you people who brought that up....try again. Read his blog, it said nothing about race so all of the southern white racist comments can just stop. And in response to docpeter1953, I do NOT appreciate you calling us a Yankee Trash State. There are good and bad people everywhere and it is quite unfair to categorize a whole entire state based on what? DO you live here? Have you met EVERYONE that lives in PA? I think not. That statement was rude and ignorant...in the "not knowing" sense.

3. Who ever started talking crap on the girl that said they were all ducking behind each other...get serious. If there were a gunman in a room you were in, you really mean to tell me you wouldn't duck and cover? Of course people are going to be huddled together, they were scared. And ducking and covering is a pretty natural reaction. It is really unfair and ****** of you to bash her because you were not there. You did NOT experience what she did. So until you do, you should probably keep those comments to yourself.

4. As far as guns only being good for murder and not defense....are you serious? I really don't even want to get in to this because it is just ridiculous. There are MANY good people who carry guns for protection (my brother being one of them) because of the crazy people like this guy out there. Guns are used for protection and hunting daily. If you were to look at the ratio of people that owned guns to the people that used them for harm, it would be TERRIBLY low. Yes, people misuse guns, but instead of holding them responsible, you hold everyone else and their mother responsible for their actions. Totally absurd.

I'm sure I could tear apart more comments that many of you left...especially due to the fact that many of you are speculating, make absurd accusations, and best of all, not able to even construct a proper sentence and spell correctly. If you're going to post on forums, please be educated in order to not make yourself look like a total goon. Lastly, I feel terrible for the victims and their families and my heart and prayers go out to them. Instead of wasting your energy arguing and placing blame, worry about the survivors and the families of the victims. They are the ones that really need support and love at this time.

[aChangeOfIdeas]

Thank you! I'm so tired of people putting the blame on "groups". The idea that "southern white-supremist" attitude had anything to do with a northern guy shooting women is just bizarre. So then people have to turn it around to making PA something bad and every state has good people and bad people. Nice areas and not-so-nice areas. People need to give it a rest. But anyway, just wanted to say nice post.

[woeisme1]

Look at the names of these gun nuts: You have gunownerdan, winchester70, docpeter (reminds me of doc holoiday). Do I need to say anymore about where their priorities are? I mean, their nics says it all I believe. Their nics reveal their mentality and my nic is appropiately, "woeisme" and everyone else.

[docpeter1953]

Reminds you of Doc Holoiday?

You are proving you are an idiot. BTW it is Doc Holiday

Your nic is ignorant.

[woeisme1]

Oh....I hitr a nerve I see. Can't take being proven wrong huh? Typical republican.

[winchester70]

Unfortunately, I inadvertently omitted the words "-an idiot" which applies to fredmertz and woeisme1 as well.

[woeisme1]

Get out of the mirror boy. And I am not you.

[anti-global2]

This nut would have gotten guns even if they were banned. People have a right to own guns for self defense. All we can do now is hope that God has no mercy on him and he burns in hell.

[woeisme1]

Well they are part of the problem - I mean the southern, white racist, republican extremists who cling to their false god and their guns. Then they spend all their time on these boards spewing their hate and intolerance.

Is it any wonder the ill effect these nasty republican NRA affiliates and supporters of the extreme far, farout right wing, ding-a-ling party have caused upon society. First their party caused the mess the nation is in and then they do nothing but hate and falsely judge those who are working hard to ressurrect our country from the brink of ruin.

It's time to ban the NRA and all of their foolishness. It's time to ban all weapons from all southern, white extremist and anyone else who has adopted their mentality.

[docpeter1953]

Ok, you're an idiot.

1. The attack happened in PA. That is one of the Yankee trash states, not the southern. And yes Yankees can also be racists, but that really had NOTHING to do with this particular incident.

2. I am NRA, I am a moderate, and I voted Obama.

[gunownerdan]

I'm proud to not be an independent non-republican and non-religious NRA member. The NRA is the largest and most effective civil-rights group in history!

[winchester70]

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, "If you, sir, believe that, you are an a$$".

[woeisme1]

The NRA is the largest and most effective civil rights organization in the world??????

YOU guys are the NUTS! Murderers hide behind the NRA and its outdated and no-longer viable 2d Amendment. I hope they take ALL guns away from everyone except the police and the military 'cause you guys can't handle the responsibility that comes with owning a weapon.

The fact that you insist that guns are necessary for the people to squash some threat from the British government is absurd. That's why the 2d Amendment was written. We were in a time of war, a war that was establishing a nation. Far different times than we live in now. But that you guys continue to harp on that right says to the rest of America what they already know - you guys are hell bent on violence. It's who youi are. Otherwise, why insist on a weapon. You yourselves say that a knife or a sword will work just as well. But yet you won't give up your guns for a sword or a knife. What a bunch of jerks and hypocrits the republican extremist is. Your arguments are just so silly and thats why America got rid of you all last November and will continue to do so.

[docpeter1953]

RE: by woeisme1 August 5, 2009 11:33 AM EDT
_______________________

I sir wish they would take away your computer and keyboard, but that isn't likely to happen either.

You have your dream and I will have mine.

If you don't want to own a gun that is perfectly fine with me, I am happy for you. But this IS America, so don't tell me I can't own a gun just because you don't want one.

[docpeter1953]

RE: by woeisme1 August 5, 2009 11:13 AM EDT,

"The fact that you insist that guns are necessary for the people to squash some threat from the British government is absurd. That's why the 2d Amendment was written. We were in a time of war, a war that was establishing a nation"
_____________________________

You are an IDIOT. It isn't just GB, wake up and read the news.

[gunownerdan]

woeisme1 said:
"I hope they take ALL guns away from everyone except the police and the military..."


This reminds me of a historical quote.
"Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA - ordinary citizens don't need guns, as their having guns doesn't serve the State."
- Heinrich Himmler, Adolf Hitler's SS leader

[woeisme1]

Yep and heres another republican extremists quoting Hitler. It figures. You just further prove my point as to where your feeble minds are at.

[incog-nito]

Did they miss the warning signs, again?

[cleric60]

"G-d...GunOwersDans" Give me a break, Asking God to damn gun sellers, their supporters and their owners. Sir, who gave us the wisdom to create, design, make guns? Guns don't kill, they also protect and guard us from evil-doers? What about those/police who protect us?
What about our armed forces who defend our nation?
Before you ask God to damn gun owners, why not pray for those who
hunt, protect, and defense us from our enemies?

[docpeter1953]

Cleric, you are trying to talk logic to anti-gunner fred_mertz. You'd be better off talking to a door knob, at least it has a definite function in its life-time.

[barbaram99]

toldyouso,well said. We have riden public transit where others lose it. I am Msine born and raised. One thing is an adult never uses a child as a shild.
The condtution gives us the right to bear arms but this is not what the Fathers had in mind whrn they wrote it.
It is appalling that people feel they have to tote a gun everywhere. Yet they do. toldyouso brought up good points and her posts hits the nail on the head. My sighted friend and I have talked about this. It makes no sense to us that they do as the man in this article did. They want to kill and be seen doing it. It is wrong yet they do it. They want their 15 min fame and once dead they won't see it. Their friends will, I have never understood the love affair with guns that America has. It makes no sense to me and I have and live in gun free homes. I gave up the right to bear arms as a blind person. Hollywoodland loves to make gun moives which I don't care for. I once asked a gent what the HE do if the right to bear arms were to be taken away ? He said he make them. My late father knew my views on the gun. I told him I am not against a man who hunts to put food on the family table but am the killing humans that are hunted just so they are killt for no reason. That man had no business taking guns into an exerise centre etc. Every day there are shootings ,gang beatings. Yet no one cleans it up. We met a lady beaten up by gangs and she is unable to walk. Values are not taught. It is like a war zone in the cities and it looks like they are moving to the small towns. I will never understand the mind of a killer. I can't understand it. Am in my 50s. I blog and write my letters on the computer. For me it is a sp needs tool. Hope the ladies are able to heal and get well. It appalling.

[jbright9]

Our society and its love of guns is just nuts. I hold the NRA, Republican Party and all of the gun loving crazies responsible.

[gunownerdan]

This suicidal man could have easily killed 4 people and himself using a knife or a sword. I guess you will bring up that fact once blaming the guns gets old?

[quapawsix]

Why is it when someone on their own accord does things like this, that all the Anti gun freaks got to look to put the blame on the NRA, the Gun manufactures and so on. If you are judging all who own guns because of one individuals action then you must be a peewit. It was armed civilians that help us get ride of the King and it's the same guns that keep you free to post your anti gun dribble.

[fred-mertz]

Another GUN OWNER, doing what gun owners do: KILLING PEOPLE WITH HIS GUNS. Guns are designed for MURDER-- that's ALL they're good for! They don't "defend"; they can only offend.

G-d Dammm the Gun Sellers and G-d Dammm their mindless supporters and evil spokesmodels, the GunOwnerDans of this world!

[gunownerdan]

If I have to kill someone to stop them from killing me or someone else, I will not think twice.

[docpeter1953]

what i would like to know fred, where were you last week or so when the man had to use his gun to defend his family against a cougar attack in a national forest?

Where were you to spread all of your idiotic anti-gun cr@p?

Didn't see one post from you for not allowing people to own guns.

[6591Hou]

Compare how many guns are there in the country versus how many gun deaths. Obviously all gun owners aren't running around killing people with their guns.

[MorganBarber44]

Some guys are convinced they should have a beautiful wife around to attend to their every need. When that doesn't happen, a disgruntled single man can have aggrivation evolve into rage. Its usually a goofy guy who projects an image of high needs totally unmet. Maybe someday a woman will do something like this. Some portly spinster who always wanted to be an unemployed married soccer mom. Finally snaps and goes after a large group of guys with an AK.

[afmcalax]

Although many gun nuts will be offended, the NRA and their most vocal supporters must take some of the blame for another senseless incident. If the NRA would stop the scare tactics and concentrate on taking the responsibility to fashion sensible gun purchase, training, and insurance laws many of these incidents would never happen. If the NRA would stop playing to the fears of the gun nuts that Big Brother is coming to take their guns away maybe a more rational approach could be created. Sensible regulations to create guns for adequate protection, for responsible hunting, and for acceptable sport are attainable if we approach this issue with our brains instead of our emotions. Right now the NRA is part of the problem; not part of the solution and many more will die before America finally wakes up.

[displeased]

That's fine for responsible gun owners, but this person went out and purchased the guns after he came up with a plan for a mass shooting. His intentions were already in place when he walked into the gun store. NRA can't control a person's cognitive decline.

[cleric60]

"Every inclination of a person's heart is evil from childhood" Gensis 8:21 (Original sin)
"Out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery,sexual immorality,theft,false testimony,slander." Matt.15:19 (Actual sin)
I think that gives us insight into the "whys" of this person's
actions.

[toldyouso29]

"All of us girls were just ducking behind each other and it was just, you know, I was behind a girl, one of the girls in front to get hit, and when he was in the opposite corner shooting, I booked it," she told WPXI-TV.


Tells us what kind of person this woman is also. Used another person as a shield.
Reminds me of my ex-best friend. Our friendship really went downhill after an incident one summer. We were at college and walking to a store. A man pulled up to the sidewalk and immediately drew a "gun" and aimed it at us. My girlfriend immediately grabbed me and thrust me in front of herself. The gunman fired. Water. It was a water gun. Sprayed me in the chest and face. Had it been real, of course I would have died.

I was shaken, my girl friend was shaken. The 'gunman sped off" In reflection, I commented on the loyalty NOT exhibited by my bff--in throwing my body in front of her as a shield. She replied:

I did it out of love. What the????? I asked her to explain...she said she threw me in front because she was the faster runner and she thought after I had taken all the bullets--she was the best choice to survive and run to get help. I never saw her or thought of our friendship the same sense.

There is a difference in caring about someone enough to take a bullet for them and being used as their shield with no choice. I asked her if she would have grabbed a child and done the same thing. She did not hesitate--she said: "If a man pulls up with a gun and is gonna shoot me, then yeah, I'd probably use a kid as shield---hell, I'd use my own mom"

Such nobility. She ducked behind someone who took a bullet for her. Maybe she should have kept that little nugget to herself.

[toldyouso29]

OOOPs--sorry Stacy Falk. It does not say you ducked behind the other woman, just that you were behind the other woman. As for "booking" haven't heard that used since the 1970s. LOL

[docpeter1953]

by bannednancy August 5, 2009 10:14 AM EDT
My, my, aren't we the selfish person.

I don't expect my friends to take a bullet for me; my friends are the people for whom I would take the bullet.
------------------------------------
Well he11 Nancy will you be my friend?